t’s not the size of the yard, it’s how you use it.
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By choosing an elongated octagon over a rectangle, the designer obtained extra deck space while still keeping with the property's geometric lines. The second step in the swim spa also serves as a hydrotherapy bench with six jets.
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As J.R. Richard saw it, this principle especially applies when trying to achieve several objectives in a small space such as this L-shaped backyard.
To meet the clients’ desires for therapy, exercise and a place to host Sunday family gatherings, the president/CEO of Richard’s Total Backyard Solutions in Houston cut corners — in the swim spa’s shape, not its quality. By trimming the corners off a standard rectangular vessel, he yielded an elongated octagon and extra deck space.
In addition to that space-saver, Richard, along with designers Kevin Conger and Ryan Pieszchala, stretched the swim spa’s second step and placed jets along that side of the wall, converting the area into a therapy bench. An outdoor grill helps round out the backyard experience, setting the perfect tone for the small, intimate family gatherings that the clients enjoy.
Explain to us the entire design concept.
Our whole thing was trying to get them everything they were looking for, which was therapy, exercise, entertaining and cooking out.
Based on the profile, the customers wanted therapy as well as exercise in their backyard. We included a curved bench so they can sit and have jets on their backs for therapeutic reasons. We made a bench out of the second step on one side of the spa and put jets in the walls so they can get some therapeutic action. So the swim spa is really designed for therapy as well as exercise, and it’s big enough that they could just lounge or float around in it, too, not just exercise.
It could be a sport pool as well as a swim spa. They could actually play volleyball in it, for instance. It’s not as wide as a normal sport pool, yet it still could function as one.
They also wanted to be able to cook out and entertain. We put a grill system up against the back wall so they can have an outdoor kitchen.
We raised the back beam and included a waterfall to give it a visual effect, as well as a relaxing sound from the water splashing into the spa. Then we incorporated some greenery into the design to give it some softness.
What kind of look did you want to create?
We tried to keep it clean and simple. We didn’t have a lot of room to do landscaping for a tropical effect. So we wanted a more contemporary, clean look to go with that white wall in the back.
Because they had the off-white wall in the back, we went ahead with off-white SunDek to match. We can’t fake the fact that we don’t have any more room to work with back there, so we have to make it look like it was all one unit that was planned from the beginning.
Is that why you created a modified octagon — for a clean look?
Yes, everything in the yard was squared off. I thought the swim spa needed some angles and dimensions to it.
There are several other reasons for the shape. We wanted to get the most useable space that we could. If we made a rectangle, those corners would really be a waste of space; you don’t use the corners anyway. It would’ve just encroached into useable deck space. And it would have been harder to walk around to the grill on one side or to the loungers on the other side.
Also, if you just make it a rectangle, you don’t get any real uniqueness. A rectangle would also drive the cost up because our [units] are costed out by the perimeter foot, so now you’ve got these corners that you’re paying for that you basically never use. The water in the spa also circulates better without the square corners because you don’t have corners for debris to collect in.
Why did you design a single-temperature swim spa, rather than separate the spa area from the swimming area?
Because of cost. We’re trying to get them everything they want for under $30,000. If we had more money, we would’ve made a separate spa. This way, for $30,000 they’re getting a beautiful look and they’re not going to miss the fact that they don’t have a separate spa area.
Why did you want to raise the back beam of the swim spa?
To give it a focal point. When they’re looking out from the back of the house, they’ll see this wall of water sheering down into the spa, which will have a soothing water-sound effect.
It has a flagstone face. And it’s tiered on either side, going from 6 to 12 to 18 inches in the middle of the wall, for a pyramid effect. Then there are three Sheer Descents: one in the middle on the 18-inch raised beam, and then one on each side on the 12-inch raised beam.
I would also set some potted plants up there to provide some greenery on the back wall.
Why did you place the swim spa where you did?
I think it needs to be the focal point. When you look out the windows to the back patio, you see it. It still gives the clients some grassy area on the end of the yard and on the side yard. It’s also closer to the backdoor, so they don’t have to walk all the way down to the corner of the yard to get to the spa.
People could sit underneath the patio arbor and visit with people in the swim spa without being too far away from each other.
What made you decide to place the barbecue up against the west corner?
It seemed to be the logical place to put it. It’s out of the way, so the smoke won’t be a distraction and bother to people in the spa. But it’s also really close to where the patio table and chair set is so they can serve right there from the grill. And it’s not too far away from the house.
What kind of grill do you have in mind?
Just an outdoor kitchen grill with a bar top, where they can set their plates and things.
What are you using for the spa interior?
Plaster with an additive that helps prevent staining and makes the plaster last longer. We do that as a standard practice on all of our [projects]. We get fewer complaints from our customers.
What kind of lights do you have planned for this project?
We put a Spectrum Amerlite (SAm) by Pentair. It’s a color-changing, water-cooled light with a rotating lens in front of it. It would provide a nice visual effect at night: It really sets off the spa and gives it an elegant look.
What kind of chemistry are you setting the swim spa up with?
We’ve got a basic automatic chlorinator with a Nature2 cartridge, basically a silver-ionizer-based cartridge that cuts down about 80 percent of the chlorine need in the wintertime, and probably about 50 percent in the summertime.
Did you add any equipment to ease maintenance? For instance, did you include an automatic cleaner?
We do have an automatic cleaner in there. They don’t have any big trees that I could see in their backyard, so they won’t have any leaf problems. I [chose] the cleaner I did because it does really well with dust and dirt and small particles, and it’s a suction-side cleaner. If the yard had several trees, I probably would have gone with a different brand, which might pick up leaves and bigger debris better.
What kind of landscaping did you have in mind here?
Just a tropical look, with sego and fan palms. It’s a function of where we live. Here in the Gulf Coast, everybody is looking for something that’s more relaxing and tropical. The whole tropical theme is a popular way to make folks feel more relaxed.
How did the budget work out?
It was very tight for getting all the stuff that we got in there.
I’m not saying it’s a small budget; it’s $30,000. But we’re trying to do a total backyard environment concept.
Our typical total backyard package is roughly $50,000 by the time you add landscaping, irrigation, outdoor kitchen, patio furniture, lighting, pool and spa combination, deck and even an outdoor stereo system. At $30,000, you will just take care of a basic pool/spa combination and some decking.
What would you do if you had more money?
I probably would’ve had about 150 square feet more decking; done more landscaping with some larger palm trees; and gone with a more expensive deck like patterned concrete or flagstone. We could have done a separate spa, too.
